TRINITY DRAW WITH YOUNG MUNSTER!!
15/12/2007

Trinity 18pts Young Munster 18pts

Trinity hosted top of the league and unbeaten Young Munster on Saturday on a cold but clear winter’s day in College park. Trinity supporters would not have held out much hope for their team as the forwards were ravaged by injury. Two U20s players, Johnny Iliff and Colin McDonnell, were only brought into the pack on Friday night for their 1st XV debuts. There were four U20s players in the pack on Saturday - unprecedented in recent times. Under the circumstances the forwards stood up well physically to the experienced Limerick men.

Trinity opened the game at a very fast pace, and found gaps all across the Munster’s defence. The backs and forwards linked brilliantly at times playing breathtaking rugby. From a line out Trinity attacked through three phases before inside centre Paul Gillespie sliced through to score by the posts in a movement that saw captain Joey Burns, Johnny Watt, wing Killian Stafford and flanker Johnny Iliff all carry the ball. Out half Johnny Watt converted and followed this with a penalty to give the students a 10-0 lead.

To their credit Young Munster, who are not top of the league for no reason, came back with two penalties of their own and then a well worked try off a line out drive near the Trinity line. To take the lead for the first time 13-10

Trinity off the kick off came straight back to score another superb try when Johnny Iliff turned the ball over, with prop Tristan Goodbody, out half Johnny Watt and wing Killian Stafford all making inroads deep into Young Munster territory and Joey Burns finishing off the movement to score off a quickly recycled ball. Trinity continued to attack right up to half time.

In the second half Trinity struggled to win any worthwhile set piece ball. They lived off scraps of possession, but always looked dangerous when they had the ball. Young Munster kicked for territory effectively pinning the students back in their half. Off another line out close in Munster’s scored a try when they attacked blind for their winger to score in the corner.

Off a scrap of possession Trinity managed to attack deep in Munster territory, Munster infringed and Johnny Watt duly kicked the points to tie the score.

In the closing minutes kickers from both teams had chances to win the game with last gasp long range penalties. In the end all were happy with the two points for a draw.

Trinity go into the three week Christmas break in sixth place on the league table. Trinity will be back in AIBL action in College Park on the 12th January when they host third placed DLSP. Happy Holidays!!!!

Team; 15 Shane Hanratty (Michael Boland 50), 14 Brian Barnard, 13 Volney Rouse, 12 Paul Gillespie, 11 Killian Stafford, 10 Johnny Watt, 9 Joey Burns, 1 Tristan Goodbody (Graham Murphy 65), 2 Ben Cunningham, 3 James Gethings, 4 Colin McDonnell, 5 Scott LaValla, 6 Richard Morrow, 7 Johnny Iliff, 8 Brian Coyle.

---